EAMCET/ NEET/ JEE 2026: Expected Exam Pattern and Changes

After completing schooling, every student aspires to take admission in college and universities for continuing higher education. The college admission season is nearby as the students have started receiving their final results of Class 12 from their respective schools. This is also the time when India witnesses national and state level entrance exams such as – EAMCET, NEET, JEE, etc. The majority of these exams are related to major streams such as medical and engineering field. However, in 2026 the official authorities conducting these kind of entrance exams have declared certain changes and clarifications for these highly competitive entrance exams. Following is a comprehensive overview of what candidates can expect in 2026 through this article.

EAMCET 2026 – AP and TS Exam Pattern

AP EAMCET 2026

• Mode:It will be in online mode i.e. Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Duration:The duration of the exam will be of 3 hours
• Shifts:There will be two shifts – morning and afternoon
• Medium:The exam will be conducted in three languages – English, Telugu, and Urdu (Urdu translation available at select centers. Students will be able to select the medium based on their choice and preferences.
• Questions:There will be 160 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Marking Scheme:1 mark per question and no negative marking will be there.

Subjects

• Engineering Stream:Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
• Agriculture & Pharmacy Streams:Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology
• Syllabus:Based on Class 11th and 12th from Andhra Pradesh State Board topics.

TS EAMCET 2026

• Mode:It will be in online mode i.e. Computer-Based Test
• Duration:The exam duration will be of 3 hours
• Medium:The exam will be conducted in three languages – English, Telugu, and Urdu.
• Subjects:Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (Engineering) or Botany, Zoology (Agriculture/Pharmacy)
• Syllabus:The syllabus will follow the 10+2 curriculum of the Telangana Board of Intermediate Education. No major syllabus or pattern changes are expected from the previous year.

NEET 2026 – Major Pattern Revisions

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has implemented some very significant changes in the NEET 2026 exam pattern to ensure fairness in the exam for all the candidates. Following is the list of some of the changes that are noticeable for 2026.

• Mode:It will be in Pen-and-paper based exam hence offline mode.
• Duration:The exam will be of 3 hours (180 minutes)
• Medium:There will be 13 languages, including English, Hindi, and regional languages in which candidates can appear for the exam based on their choice and preferences.
• Questions:There will be 180 MCQs which are compulsory
• Marking Scheme:The exam will carry a total weightage of 720 marks. There might be a negative marking scheme.

Key Changes in NEET 2026

• Removal of Optional Questions:The optional questions in Section B, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been discontinued. All 180 questions are now compulsory for students to attend.
• No Sectional Bifurcation:Previously, each subject was divided into two sections (A and B). This bifurcation has been removed as each subject now has a single section with 45 mandatory questions.
• Exam Duration:The time frame has been reduced from 200 minutes to 180 minutes.

JEE Main 2026 – Updated Structure and Compulsory Questions

The JEE Main 2026 exam which is also conducted by the NTA (National Testing Agency), has also seen notable changes. Following is the list of some of the changes that are noticeable for 2026.

• Mode:It will be online mode which will be Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Duration:The exam will be of 3 hours (4 hours for PwD candidates)
• Medium:There will be 13 languages, including English, Hindi, and regional languages for candidates to choose from.

Papers

• Paper 1 (BE/B. Tech):Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
• Paper 2A (B. Arch):Mathematics, Aptitude, Drawing
• Paper 2B (B. Plan):Mathematics, Aptitude, Planning-Based Questions

Questions and Marking

• Paper 1:There will be 75 questions (25 each from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics), and all of them are compulsory. No optional questions in Section B is included and all 5 numerical value questions per subject must be answered.
• Paper 2A/2B:This paper will witness a reduction in the number of questions in Mathematics with no optional questions. Paper 2A (B. Arch) includes a drawing section, while Paper 2B (B. Plan) features planning-based questions.
• Marking Scheme: the marking scheme remains unchanged from previous years.

Conclusion

For 2026, the trend across EAMCET, NEET, and JEE gives a clarity to the participating students. It is noted that all questions are made compulsory especially in NEET and JEE exams, with optional questions and section bifurcations being removed. The duration for all exams is standardized at 3 hours, and the marking schemes remain largely unchanged. These updates aim to simplify the exam structure and ensure uniformity, helping students focus on comprehensive preparation. All the aspired candidates are advised to regularly check official website for notifications for any last-minute changes and to prepare thoroughly based on the updated exam patterns and syllabus.